ENGLISHThe jungle of the Muscle Cars is so lush and singular, that sometimes you must revisit some models, just because once is not enough to understand their relevance in the automotive world... I had a clear idea in my mind about Plymouth, the few models I knew first-hand of this brand had a design so stylish, that it was not difficult for me to assume that it was a luxury division of Chrysler...

I have a feeling that I’m not the only one with such idea, but while I was preparing this publication, I realized that I was wrong, and actually Plymouth was the entry level brand of Chrysler, just like Chevrolet in General Motors or Ford in Ford Motor Company...

But it was not only my febrile imagination, NO !!!...

There was a reason for such appreciation and the reason was: the Muscle Cars...

What some people cannot understand about this important segment of vehicles, is that it gave a shine to certain brands of the american car industry, which they never had before.

Plymouth, the poor maid in the Chrysler portfolio, made some of the most imposing Muscle Cars ever know and that’s why I thought this brand was a luxury division, right ??? =PPPPP...

Yet, in a sense, I was not completely wrong in this perception, since the GTX, based on the Belvedere medium size platform (later renamed as Satellite), became the equivalent of the Mercury Cougar by Ford or the Buick GSX and Oldsmobile 442 by General Motors, i.e. a deluxe Muscle Car.

I already mentioned in a previous publication about the GTX, that it was also known as the "gentleman’s" Muscle Car and the gentlemen are not used to the ordinary things of life.

This model received a brand new body design for such year, with a "Fuselage Styling", combining bold curves with sharp edges, giving you the impression that the body wraps around the chassis gently.

This is the sexiest model produced by Chrysler or any other carmaker involved in the Muscle Car’s kingdom, at least in 1971.

It came filled with amenities from factory, like: a TorqueFlite 3-speed transmission (with the option of 4-speed manual), low restriction dual exhaust with chrome tips, heavy duty suspension and brakes, white letter tires or 18 body colors to choose and the list continues...

For about US$5,000 you could get a top notch Muscle Car (albeit the insurance expenses would kill you) and barely 2,942 were built, making it a great collectible !!!...

Hot Wheels has contributed with a good share of models in my growing collection, but only after a long process of "amorousness", because for me, it was merely a mass producer of diecast, without the pedigree of other diecast manufacturers.

Nevertheless, since i had high expectations, most of its models just fall short and a careful selection was a must.

This is an example of a great diecast model, the 1971 Plymouth GTX, a casting designed by Phil Riehlman and released in 2001.

It belongs to the Hall of Fame - Greatest Rides Series, an adult line made exclusively for Target, which come inside a deluxe clamshell and includes 17 models only for the Greatest Rides category.

The cast itself is nicely detailed even below the chassis, with the correct proportion and the high-end finishes you expect from an adult collectible.

It features diecast body with plastic chrome chassis, black interiors, the paint job in bright yellow with accents in glossy black for the hood and flat black for the top, also the nice paint details in the front grille, the fine tampos everywhere and the Redline Real Riders wheels with chrome hub rims and rubber tires, complement very well this mold.

There is even a trading card printed in color with a picture of the actual car on the front side and a short history of the model print in greyscale on the back side; also a curious fact about this diecast is that it was made in China, which is quite unusual for a model manufactured after 2000 !!!...

Mat 10:11-15 "And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into a house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city."

2 comments:

Those Plymouth GTX were well built which goes to say HW has the abilities to also made really cool diecast depending on their target group. Won't say the design is very bold however its really sporty for that era. A deserving inductee to hall of frame.

for the standards of the Muscle Car segment, the GTX design was the most daring and distinctive available... the first models were based on the regular medium size cars for the average families, but the latest Muscle Cars had a more sporty look and the body design was exclusive for those models (i mean, not shared with the respective family cars)...

some lines in the Hot Wheels portfolio, really stand out from the rest... if you search long enough, you will find nice diecast like this, which are not precisely the toy for kiddos... =)

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